Lincoln police probe community center theft

LINCOLN, Maine — More than $2,000 worth of items, including Wii video games, were stolen from Ballard Hill Community Center as part of five break-ins or attempted burglaries over the past two weeks, Police Chief Scott Minckler said Monday.

Two of three Wii consoles, all of the town Recreation Department’s Wii games and some game accessories were stolen as part of a burglary that apparently occurred between 9:45 p.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Recreation Department Director Ron Weatherbee said the thefts mean that recreation program participants who might have enjoyed the Wii games when recreation programs are postponed will have less to do.

“Twenty to 30 people would participate in programs on most rainy days,” Weatherbee said Monday. “I am just disappointed that they will take away from the opportunity offered to people to use the equipment.”

Story continues below advertisement.

Three rooms at Ballard Hill, 2 Pleasant St., were broken into, and one room was unlocked with a key found in a locked room. Food, money and keys also were stolen, Minckler said. The building’s locks have been changed.

The most recent incident, an attempted break-in at Lincoln Trading & Pawn, 29 West Broadway, occurred overnight Saturday and was reported early Sunday. The burglary might have been foiled by security cameras inside the building, Minckler said.

“There are different methods being used,” Minckler said. “Nothing is connecting. They [the burglaries] could be connected, but we can’t say for sure.”

Vehicle break-ins occurred the weekend of June 6. Small items, including a flashlight, loose change and cigarettes, were among the items taken. A homeowner on Evergreen Drive reported early Wednesday that some prescription drugs were stolen and that the burglar or burglars might have pushed aside an air conditioner to get into the home, Minckler said.

Several officers are handling the investigations. Anyone with information on the burglaries or who has been burglarized is asked to call police at 794-2610. Anyone being burglarized should call 911, Minckler said.

Town insurance likely will cover the loss of the Ballard Hill equipment and will pay for its replacement, Weatherbee said. He said he did not know when the replacement would occur.